Thespians Rejoice: Tampa Bay Theatre Fest is back for its fourth year

When the Tampa-based non-profit RL Stage Inc. launched the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival back in 2014, their goal for attendees wasn’t that much unlike the experiences we have when we go to the theatre: an event that is compelling, memorable, and eye-opening, and leaves us with a different perspective of the arts and ourselves. It was a welcome addition to Tampa art scene, and attendance its first year was in the thousands. Now it’s returning for its fourth year in a row, and bringing with it a rousing spectrum of workshops, competitions, panels, and performances. Starting today, and running until September 3rd, they promise something for people interested in every facet of theatre: from those on the production side, to those hoping to improve their acting skills, to those who just enjoy a great show.

Attendees can expect to find a great amount of insight from the special guests featured throughout the festival. All trained professionals, some are even returning from previous stints at the festival. NYU Graduate Lil Barcaski, who previously worked with TBTF, will be back to head a playwriting panel that covers both the artistic and the practical side of the process. Mary Walkley, a vocal coach who has run her studio Florida Sings for over 20 years, will teach an immersive vocal training workshop that she is encouraging people to bring recording devices to.

But perhaps the most alluring feature of the multi-day event is the full-length plays that will be performed in conjunction with the festival. The six shows selected for this year cover an eclectic mix of topics, from a biographical feature on the life of writer and Florida native Zora Neale Hurston, to playwright Thom Mesobrian’s 11 year-long true story as a theme park actor, to Heart of the Sea, a show that follows the adventures of a mermaid named Calamaria and drew inspiration from climate change and the @_FloridaMan twitter account. Attendees will get to see festival founder Rory Lawrence in action as the lead role in the opening night show, “I Think She’s the One.” Short plays will make it to the spotlight too, with two separate competitions taking place during the festival.

The full schedule for the 3 day event is below. Grab your theatre buddies, break a leg, and don’t say MacBeth.

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